The Means Read Online Free

alone. Sometimes to blow off steam or after a good verdict she’ll get drinks with the legal team. But if it’s something personal to celebrate, she has no one to go to.
    I want this job, she thinks. Litigation to broadcast journalism is a proven path. If it isn’t UBS, it’ll be someplace else. I won’t stop.
    She cabs to the Time Warner building, walks past the statue of the fat man and up the escalator to Stone Rose. It’s 4:30 p.m.
    A waiter comes right over wearing a starched white button-down shirt and black pants. He’s deciding whether or not to flirt.
    â€œVodka martini up, slightly dirty.”
    He nods. He decides to hold off on flirting until he has a better read.
    Samantha’s cell phone rings. It’s Robin Paris, her friend and college roommate. “Sam, if I didn’t call you we’d never speak.”
    Samantha laughs. This is not said with judgment, just an observation. “I swear I’ve been meaning to call you.”
    â€œThank God one of us is a pampered housewife,” says Robin.
    â€œI knew I chose the wrong major.”
    â€œDid you get the job?”
    Samantha says, “I don’t know yet. He seemed to like me but it wasn’t much of an interview because they were busy covering the plane crash. It was more like an introduction to the news business and he was challenging me to like it.”
    â€œWhat’s next? Another interview?”
    Samantha says, “There’s no one left to meet. He’s the one who decides. Now either I get it or I don’t.” She sips her martini, drawing the vodka up from the glass more than pouring it past her lips.
    â€œYou’ll get it, Sam. You’ll be the smartest, prettiest badass lawyer on TV.” Robin is the only daughter of a wealthy Boston family and she went to Andover, so admission to Harvard was not as significant as a rejection from Harvard would have been. She married a childhood friend and managing director at Goldman Sachs. She’s the rare person who’s taken advantage of an easy draw in life to be a happy person and not expect even more of the world.
    â€œI may not get this one, but I’ll get something.”
    â€œWhen are you giving your notice at the law firm?”
    â€œTomorrow. I’m sad but certain about it,” says Samantha.
    â€œGood, Sam. We get one go-around on the planet. Don’t spend it filing legal briefs.” Robin plays tennis, goes to lunch, shops, manages two nannies for her two kids, and has the time to be a considerate friend. She carries the bigger part of the burden for nurturing the friendship and does it without real complaint because she loves Samantha. They have a curiosity for each other. There is the unusual combination of a separation of their lives mixed with institutional knowledge of each other’s lives that makes them perfect confidants.
    Call waiting beeps on Samantha’s phone. She holds the phone back to look in case there’s an emergency legal filing required of her at Davis Polk, which is probable. The caller ID says unknown.
    â€œRobin, I need to take this. I’ll call you later.” She presses to hang up and accept the incoming call. “Samantha Davis.”
    â€œSamantha, it’s David Mueller.”
    â€œDavid, hi.” She pauses while her brain runs scenarios of why he could be calling and prepares her answers. Legal training. “Nice to hear from you.”
    â€œWell, Ms. Davis. Do you always get what you want?”
    â€œIt feels like never, but that may be a neurosis of mine.”
    â€œI’m calling to offer you a job.” Mueller knew he was going to hire her. He just wanted a few minutes to decide on the salary and terms. “It’s a three-year deal. One fifty year one, one seventy-five year two, two twenty-five year three. General assignment news reporter based in New York.” Mueller had upped his number because he wants to put a